New insight into the relation between bulk precipitation and surface deposition of calcium carbonate mineral scale

Abstract

ABSTRACT The formation of calcium carbonate mineral scale is a major issue in desalination. Understanding the precipitation and deposition of such scale is a necessity in order to prevent fouling of components and also under deposit corrosion. Research has mainly focused on either bulk scale precipitation or surface deposition. However, understanding both together is of great interest to predict and therefore prevent the formation of such inorganic deposits. This study presents an assessment of the kinetics of calcium carbonate formation in the bulk and on a stainless steel surface. The objective of the study is to improve the knowledge of the relationship between bulk precipitation and surface deposition. Both the processes (bulk precipitation and surface deposition) have been assessed together in situ and in real time. The procedure enabled the assessment of bulk precipitation by measuring the turbidity while the surface coverage of the surface scale was assessed by analysing images of the surface at di...